Wire stretcher



Nov. 8, 1955 I 1... w. GLASSMAKER 2,723,103

WIRE STRETCHER Filed Jan. 15, 1953 Fig. 2

Leonard M Glassmalrer JNVENTOR.

Attornt]:

United States Patent WIRE STRETCHER Leonard W. Glassmaker, Onida, S. Dak- Application January 15, 1953, Serial No. 331,383

1 Claim. (Cl. 254-80) This invention relates to fence repairing and constructing tools, and more particularly to a fence wire stretcher.

A primary object of this invention is to provide an improved wire stretcher embodying an arcuate strap portion to fit against a fence post and an arcuate clamping portion, the two portions being terminally hinged together for clamping action, and means for passing a fence wire through the hinge to lie between said portions for clamping thereby.

This together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the wire stretcher and showing the same in inoperative position; and

Figure 2 is a plan view of the wire stretcher operatively engaged against a fence post and in the process of stretching fence wire.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, reference numeral indicates generally an arcuate strap which forms a part of the wire stretcher and is formed at one end thereof as a pair of spaced bosses 12, 14. The lower boss 12 is provided with a centrally disposed aperture therein and the upper boss 14 is provided with a semicircular recess 16 and a pair of adjacent vertical faces 18. Adjacent the boss 14 is a projection 20 having a plurality of teeth 22 thereon for a purpose presently apparent. The other end of the strap is provided with a pair of spaced prongs 24 which are adapted to be inserted underneath a fence staple to remove the same from a fence post or the like.

Reference numeral 26 indicates generally a hand lever which is substantially L-shaped and which includes a clamping portion 28 provided at its free end with an apertured boss 30 which is notched away at either side thereof to provide clearance for the strap bosses 12 and 14. Since the upper strap boss 14 is cut away, the upper face 32 formed by the upper notch will be spaced from the faces 18. In order to secure the lever to the strap, a pivot pin 34 is engaged through the various bosses 12, 14 and 30. A handle or manually gripped portion 36 extends at right angles from the clamping portion 28 and constitutes the main section of the lever. Clamping portion 28 is also provided with a projection 38 having teeth 40 thereon and which is adapted to overlie an adjacent portion of the strap 10 and mate with the toothed projection 20.

2,723,103 Patented Nov. 8, 1955 In operation, the arcuate strap is placed against a fence post 38 or the like and the jaws or projections 20 and 38 are separated slightly by manipulation of handle 36 so that a fence wire 42 may be inserted within the space between faces 18 and 32 and between the jaws. With the wire thus positioned, handle 36 is swung toward the strap 10 so that the jaws bite the wire therebetween and further pressure applied upon the lever 36 will fulcrum the entire assembly about the fence post so as to tighten or stretch the wire in a desired manner. When the wire is properly stretched, it may be stapled to the fence post whereupon pressure on handle 36 may be relaxed. The type of wire illustrated is of the barbed type, but it is to be understood that this device will perform stretching operations equally well on other types of conventional wire.

Of course, the more pressure that is exerted against handle 36 will create a correspondingly greater biting action of the fence wire between the jaw projections 20 and 38 thereby preventing slippage of the wire within the aws.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A wire stretcher comprising an arcuate strap adapted to engage a fence post horizontally and having a pair of upper and lower apertured hinge bosses thereon at one end thereof, an actuating lever including an arcuate lateral terminal portion with an apertured end hinge boss thereon between said pair of bosses, a pin extending through said apertured bosses and pivotally securing said arcuate terminal portion to said arcuate strap for hinging movement toward and from said arcuate strap into and from clamping relation to said arcuate strap by manipulation of said lever, said upper boss and said arcuate terminal portion being cut away to provide opposite recesses therein forming a notch for positioning of a fence wire between the end of said arcuate strap and the end of said arcuate terminal portion to lie between said arcuate strap and said arcuate terminal portion, said arcuate strap and said arcuate terminal portion having longitudinal toothed clamping projections thereon spaced from said notch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 524,125 Barclay Aug. 7, 1894 1,021,371 Medlin Mar. 26, 1912 1,119,891 Snedeker Dec. 8, 1914 2,221,277 Thompson Nov. 12, 1940 2,598,553 Jennings May 27, 1952 2,608,793 Gant Sept. 2, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 71,438 Norway Dec. 23, 1946 

